J. Bardsley

(L to R) 1914 Star; British War Medal; Allied Victory Medal; India General Service Medal with clasp 'Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919'

Unfortunately we don't know this man's first name or anything about his early life and family.

He joined the Manchester Regiment in late 1906 or early 1907 and was given the service number 1134. When the First World War broke out in August 1914 he was serving with the 1st Battalion at Jullundur in India and held the rank of Private. They were quickly organised and sailed for France on the 29th August.

We don't know details of this man's service during the war, although we believe he only served with the 1st Battalion. This would mean he left France for Basra in Mesopotamia, now Iraq, in December 1915.

By the end of the war he held the rank of Acting Sergeant. He transferred to the Military Foot Police and was given the service number P5627. This number tells us he transferred between November 1916 and January 1917. At some point he was sent to India.

As a Military Policeman he took part in the Third Anglo-Afghan War of May - August 1919, fought in Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. During combat Military Police were responsible for traffic control, guarding rear areas and directing stragglers or lost soldiers back to their units as well as their usual job of ensuring discipline. He is unlikely to have seen front line combat.

We don't know when he left the Army or what he did as a civilian. We know he married and that by 1942 he was living at 14 Westminster Street in Cornbrook, Manchester. He continued living there until he went into Salford Royal Infirmary, where he died on the 19th August 1960. His medals were presented to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment that December.